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Greg Schiano Explains Late Field Goal

October 20th, 2013

Joe was outraged when Bucs coach Greg Schiano decided to play percentages and go for a late field goal when the Bucs needed 14 points to tie the game with five minutes left in the final quarter in today’s gut-punching loss to the Dixie Chicks.

At first, Joe hit the ceiling and could not believe that Schiano would suddenly go all French Army on the Dixie Chicks, especially since his job is on the line. The Tampa Bay voice of reason, columnist Joe Henderson of the Tampa Tribune, took to Twitter and believed that move signaled the end of the Greg Schiano Era in Tampa Bay.

@JHendersonTBO: IMO, whatever belief remained in Schiano by this town vanished with a FG that left #Bucs still needing 2 possessions in 5 minutes

This Joe was right with Henderson until he heard Schiano explain his position on the Buccaneers Radio Network.

“We were going for a score to make it one-score game,” Schiano said. “Then we self-inflict. Twice on fourth down. The odds of us doing anything [scoring a touchdown] is maybe 10 percent. If we could make it an 11-point game, we can score and get an onside kick which is what we did. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the onside kick.”

Joe will have more on the self-infliction a bit later. Schiano, Joe must admit, has a point. The Bucs needed 23 yards and the Dixie Chicks would have just put everyone in the end zone or on the goal line to defend against a touchdown. Not good odds.

Rather than being PO’ed at the decision, in retrospect, Joe is more than PO’ed at the sloppy play coming from a team coached by a self-proclaimed toes-on-the-line disciplinarian.

77 Responses to “Greg Schiano Explains Late Field Goal”

I can also understand this reasoning. However, what I don’t understand is why not try for the onside kick right after? You know you eventually are going to have to recover one. Why not kick one, and assuming you miss it, you can still stop them on a 3 and out, then score, then try again for another onside kick. I’m not familiar with the exact percentages, but I’m going to assume you have a better chance to recover an onside kick with 2 attempts versus 1. Is it just me???

I’ll tell you why (in my opinion): he’s trying to keep the score respectable, so he can say we lost by only one score. If we miss the onside kick, he doesn’t know if we’ll have time to get that FG. Pathetic.

Well, to be fair the Bucs did get it down to a one score game. If we were able to get the ball back and score a touchdown and 2 point conversion we go to OT. But Schiano has been too conservative all year. He didn’t trust Josh Freeman the first two games and the Bucs LOST. He didn’t trust Mike Glennon in this game and guess what? BUCS LOST.

@JT – Schiano is supposed to coach these guys not to make such penalties. Its not always on the coach on what a player does with his free will. But when the entire team is committing dumb penalties, its no coincidence.

I don’t think you understand my point, so let me try again. We go down 11, then go for an onside kick. Let’s say we do not recover the onside kick. They go 3 & out and we get the ball back after 1 minute 9 seconds (they aren’t going to attempt a long FG in that situation and give us good field position). We come down and kick another FG. I’ll give you another minute to go the extra 25 yards or so. That gives us another onside kick with 1 minute left. I don’t know about you, but I like our chances better with 2 onside kick opportunities versus one. Don’t you? Probability is higher, no?

Joe has the ability to make everything look as bad and hopeless as possible, spinning every situation and blaming someone for every event. Had we gone for the 4th down rather than kicking the FG, and NOT getting the first down,.. I am quite sure Joe would have complained about that decision as well! I really use to be a “Joebucsfan” fan,.. but recently I am losing confidence in Joe’s ability to be objective as fast as Joe has lost faith in our team! Only Joe has done a worse job than the BUCS thus far this year!

@PR – I am not trying to say Freeman was the answer. Benching him was probably the right call. But to say he was the BIGGEST problem after seeing how the Bucs have performed without him is absurd. The comment was mainly to all those Freeman haters that used to say “CUT FREEMAN” after every loss. Now everyone is saying “FIRE SCHIANO”. Schiano is the big problem.

Anyway, my point is that the Freeman haters (most of them) actually believed Freeman was the biggest issue and weakness with this team. Clearly he was not. Sure, one can argue he wasnt part of the solution but when it comes to wins and losses he wasn’t the problem.

mark dominick cant fire him before the plane ride home because their both gonna get back to one buc and walk the plank, schiano for pretending to know how to coach but it’s not his fault if someone gives you the keys to a lamborghini and your used to driving a pinto. mark dominick should be fired just for being a punk and letting this amateur run the show and act as if he’s been there before. butch davis he’s gonna walk the plank first just for being invisible or more than likely he walked the plank a long time ago is schiano is the egomaniac he has proven to be

Of all the people who interviewed for the Bucs HC job, what did Greg Schiano bring to the table that trumped all the other candidates? What specifically was on his resume / background that said “I am the best choice”? Were the Glazers or Dominik hung over during the day of the decision? Were they under any type of influence that would have rendered their senses dull? Because it made no sense then and proves to be the worst possible choice.

i dont know whats more embarrassing…the fact that schiano is so bad at coaching or that it took so many people this long to realize it…..i guess we love to do what’s trending around here because he’s the only one left to blame now that freeeman is gone but then again we still have couchfan and pr buc fan blaming the ghost of thriller’s josh freeman….schiano will disappear in never never land which would be little league coaching because people wont care so much about him being a loser at that level

Our problem is not at QB….it is the O-line & the D-line. Both lines are being manhandled. The O-line is committing penalties and giving up pressure on the QB and the D-line isn’t getting sacks or enough pressure.
Look at the completion % against us…..Today with 3rd string recievers.

I wonder how the tv crews will work the cameras this Thursday and Monday November 11th to try and conceal the 2/3rds empty raymond james stadium? Maybe that will be the sign to the Glazers that this Schiano thing is not working.

@PRBucfan. I agree. But I think they went from one extreme in raheem “I am your friend” Morris to the opposite end in Greg “Toes on the Line” Schiano. We need something right in the middle. Like a Sean payton type.

I have to agree that for a rookie, Glennon played extremely well today. Ogletree may be gone, but the Bucs receivers are still infected with a case of dropsies and Glennon overcame that. The fumble was a major impact though. That and the defense giving up 24 points to an injury-riddled defense as well as more dumb penalties on both sides of the ball. But bottom line, Glennon played well.

Schiano, the coaching staff, and many of these players who lets not forget are grown men who shouldn’t need their hands held and yet are still committing these ridiculous penalties are all to blame. From the top down, a house cleaning must take place.

Just reminding all the Freemanites as they use our continued failure as yet another excuse to why Freeman didn’t blow chunks here that indeed he did still..
just blow chunks.

prbucfan are you related to schiano? you sound just as ignorant as he does after a loss lol think you need to go back and watch the tape. Freeman was a problem, michael bennett was a problem, cody grimm, ahmad black, roy miller and its funny how every one he’s cut the person that played behind them is either getting hurt or not performing. we had depth before the offseason and he got rid of it just to prove how stupid he is as a coach. cutting freeman was a bad move especially if glennon gets hurt….it’s bad when the philly eagles think we have a qb problem lol

plus this idiot allowed ronde barber to retire rather than let him go back to the nickle corner just so he could give leonard johnson more reps hahaha..

greg schiano’s contract wouldnt hurt them more than enjoying the dollar menu on payday….they had money to blow until schiano came to town

Not exactly….it could certainly be argued that Spence is at least matching Miller & Glennon is at least matching Freeman…
Black and Grimm were backups & I’m not sure we are underperforming there…but possible….the only exception may be Bennett & I think that and some of the others are on Dominick.
I am not related to Schiano and I think he has many faults and should be fired at the end of this season but I like some of his influence on our drafts…

I thought the rookie Glennon played fairly well and he’s certainly trying hard. He’s not to blame for the 11 out of 12 losses. The problems lie much deeper than the player behind center. I fully expected our defensive line would put pressure on Ryan but sadly, even Schiano castoff Jeremy Trueblood was able to fend off the onslaught. Imagine if this 1-4 opponent had its’ star players. That was an innovative way to lose. Let the opponent build up a significant lead then eat up the clock yourself.

PRB, yes, a problem is a problem is a problem. But if you flip the switch and the light doesn’t come on, you change the bulb. If it still doesn’t come on you flip the breaker. If the light comes on, as the first bulb burned out? Or did you just throw away something perfectly acceptable because you fixed the wrong problem first?

Yes, Freeman had a bad year before Schiano got here… With a horrible defense and playing from behind 2 scores in the first quarter of every game. Then he played decent with one of the worst pass defenses in history and multiple last minute losses. Again, replacing a good bulb before we get a good breaker and switch.

Got it… So you’d rather keep changing bulbs when that’s not the problem. That’s fine, I know plenty of people that continue to bang their heads against brick walls because their problem solving skills are lacking. At least now I understand your concussion induced comments.

The problem with the lightbulb analogy is that you are comparing an object to a human….how bout if the lightbulb worked, but only part of the time?
That is more like what was going on with some of the players like Talib & Freeman

TBBF, I get it and if there’s one thing Schiano has done right it’s get Talib out of here and get something in return (or Dom did right). He was given multiple opportunities to knock off the stupid off field stuff and didn’t do it. I’m glad he’s gone, no matter if he does well. QB is different. The odds of finding even a good one, in the first round, is slim. Even less odds after the first. I’d rather adjust to a QB that has “flickered” than take a leap that rarely ends well.

I actually liked Freeman even with his inconsistancy…I think we could win with him if we had a really good defense…I think he was benched one game early….but it was the way he reacted after the benching that turned my feelings against him.
If he played his cards right, he may have outlasted Schiano and Dominick if Glennon failed miserably….that hasn’t happened yet.

Lovie Smith
One of the many coaches to leave Tampa in the early 2000s when the Tampa 2 defense spread across the league. Was the team’s linebackers coach from 1996 to 2000, and helped Derrick Brooks reach his potential. Was the Rams’ defensive coordinator from 2001-2003 before being hired as the Chicago Bears’ head coach in 2004.

Won three division titles in nine years with the Chicago Bears, has a 3-3 playoff record and made a Super Bowl appearance. He had five winning seasons in Chicago, leaving with an overall record of 81-63. The Bears consistently put up good defense and had outstanding special teams, but Smith could not find a competent offensive coordinator. He takes after his mentor Tony Dungy that way. Even when the team traded for Jay Cutler their struggles continued, which proved his eventual undoing. Could be a great candidate, provided someone teaches him what a good offensive coordinator looks like.

Jon Gruden. Not going to happen

Jay Gruden
Jon Gruden’s younger brother, Jay used to be the god of Arena League football. Has won 6 ArenaBowls and was voted the league’s fourth-greatest player of all time in 2012. Was a Bucs offensive assistant from 2002 through 2008, but spent most of this team as a head coach and (early on) quarterback of the Arena League Orlando Predators. Spent two years in the UFL before joining the Bengals as an offensive coordinator in 2011.

Gruden has led the Bengals offense for the past three years with mixed success. Andy Dalton has been an okay quarterback, while the team’s running game has been up-and-down. Effectively, the Bengals offense feels much like Jon Gruden’s offenses in Tampa. Jay turned down head coaching opportunities in 2012 but interviewed for several openings this year. Feels like the mellower version of his older brother, but given the way the Bucs parted ways with Jon Gruden, there doesn’t seem to be much of a chance that Jay ends up in Tampa.

Schottenhaimer – No.
Rob RyaN – You are joking, right?
Cowher – Never going to coach again
Coughlin – Good idea, but the Giants are fulls if they let him go.

Ken Whisenhunt, offensive coordinator, San Diego Chargers
Made his name in the NFL as a tight ends coach, but was the offensive coordinator for Ben Roethlisberger in his first three seasons (which includes the Steelers’ first Super Bowl appearance), while also helping resuscitate Kurt Warner’s career and now Philip Rivers’ career with the San Diego Chargers.

Was the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach from 2007 through 2012, where he compiled a 45-51 record, won two division titles, made it to a Super Bowl and managed a 4-2 playoff record. The fact that he couldn’t figure out what a good quarterback looks like if one smashed head first into his face crippled him in his final three seasons. Thought Derek Anderson, John Skelton, Max Hall, Richard Bartel, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer looked like pretty good quarterbacks. They all failed miserably.

Mike Nolan
defensive coordinator, Atlanta Falcons
Master of 4-3 slash 3-4 hybrid schemes and a supreme defensive coordinator, Nolan’s history as a head coach is a lot less impressive. Selected Alex Smith with his first pick because the quarterback had a “distaste for confrontation” and Nolan detected “attitude” from Aaron Rodgers.

Went 18-37 in four years with the 49ers, never getting to the postseason. Had a reputation as a hard-ass, but couldn’t get anything done on the field. Will turn your defense into a great unit almost regardless of talent, but has he fixed the problems that led to his firing in San Francisco?

Jack Del Rio
defensive coordinator, Denver Broncos
Has done a good job with the Broncos defense the past two years, although he has a lot of talent to work with as well. Had one previous season as a defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers in 2002 where he was outstanding as well, and was a Ravens linebackers coach before that. He’s a good position coach and a good defensive coordinator and was a very good NFL linebacker from 1985 to 1996.

Unfortunately, he was awful as a head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Had three winning seasons in nine years, went 68-71 overall, never won his division (to be fair, he was in the Peyton Manning-dominated AFC South), and won just one playoff game. Mediocrity was the Jaguars’ middle name with Del Rio at the helm.

Josh McDaniels
offensive coordinator, New England Patriots
Innovative offensive mind who thinks he could mold a paraplegic into a functional NFL quarterback if only said paraplegic was a great leader. Ran the Broncos into the ground after being hired in 2009, taking full control of personnel, which included some horribly wasted drafts. His first- and second-round picks: Knowshon Moreno, Robert Ayers, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, Richard Quinn, Demaryius Thomas, Tim Tebow, Zane Beadles. Oh, and he managed to trade away the pick that became Earl Thomas, All-Pro safety. Oh, and he managed to somehow create a minor videotaping scandal.

Still, coached Tom Brady to his best season in 2007 and got some stellar production out of the Patriots offense last year, although it appears to be faltering without weapons this year and he couldn’t get anything out of the St. Louis Rams in 2011. If anyone were to hire him, which seems unlikely at this point, they’d certainly do well to strip of him of any personnel power. Also, don’t let him near videotaping equipment.

Greg Roman
offensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
Quite possibly the most innovative offensive coordinator in the game right now, despite the smash-mouth appearance of his offense. Very original with his run block concepts, consistently manages to fool opposing defenses and turned Alex Smith into a functional NFL quarterback while grooming Colin Kaepernick. Does a very good job of creating open receivers and easy throws for his quarterbacks.

Was Stanford’s offensive coordinator before coming to the NFL, where he coached Andrew Luck in his first two seasons in college. Spent the early part of his career with the Carolina Panthers, working on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball. Joined the Texans in 2002 and became their tight ends coach and later quarterbacks coach, before spending two years with the Ravens as an offensive line coach.
Darrell Bevell, offensive coordinator, Seattle Seahawks

Has a long history as an offensive coach in various West Coast offenses. Coached Brett Favre from 2003 to 2005 with the Packers before moving to the Vikings as their offensive coordinator. Reunited with Favre there in 2009 and 2010, and became the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in 2011. Has an up-and-down record as a coordinator with a lot of bad (Tarvaris Jackson, Charlie Whitehurst) mixed in with some really good (Brett Favre, Russell Wilson).

Pep Hamilton
offensive coordinator, Indianapolis Colts
Another one from the Stanford coaching tree, Hamilton spent 2010-2012 with the Stanford Cardinal as a receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Has extensive NFL experience holding positions all over the offense with the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears from 2003 through 2009.

Currently, he’s the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, where he’s leading a run-heavy offense similar in its innovations on offense to what Greg Roman has done in San Francisco.

Adam Gase
offensive coordinator, Denver Broncos
Currently leading the league’s best offense and coaching Peyton Manning to what is probably going to be his best year, ever. Quite an accomplishment, although he certainly has the weapons to put up some great production. Was Denver’s quarterbacks coach the year before. At just 34, he’s the youngest name on this list. Was part of the offensive staff that coached Tim Tebow to not completely destroying his team’s chances in 2011. Served as the team’s wide receivers coach in 2009 and 2010, after spending time on the offensive side of the ball with the 49ers and Detroit Lions in previous years.

Mel Tucker
defensive coordinator, Chicago Bears
Terrific defensive coordinator who has turned moderately talented groups into pretty good units with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. Was the Jaguars’ interim head coach in 2011 and went 2-3 with a squad that was 5-11 on the season. Of course, those two wins came against the ten-game losing streak Bucs and the 2-14 Indianapolis Colts.

Jack Del Rio
Has done a good job with the Broncos defense the past two years. Unfortunately, he was awful as a head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Had three winning seasons in nine years, went 68-71 overall.

Josh McDaniels
Ran the Broncos into the ground after being hired in 2009, taking full control of personnel, which included some horribly wasted drafts.

Greg Roman
Quite possibly the most innovative offensive coordinator in the game right now, despite the smash-mouth appearance of his offense. Very original with his run block concepts, consistently manages to fool opposing defenses and turned Alex Smith into a functional NFL quarterback while grooming Colin Kaepernick. Does a very good job of creating open receivers and easy throws for his quarterbacks.

Darrell Bevell
Has a long history as an offensive coach in various West Coast offenses. Coached Brett Favre from 2003 to 2005 with the Packers before moving to the Vikings as their offensive coordinator. Reunited with Favre there in 2009 and 2010, and became the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in 2011. Has an up-and-down record as a coordinator with a lot of bad mixed in with some really good.

Pep Hamilton
Another one from the Stanford coaching tree, Hamilton spent 2010-2012 with the Stanford Cardinal as a receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Has extensive NFL experience holding positions all over the offense with the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears from 2003 through 2009. Currently, he’s the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, where he’s leading a run-heavy offense similar in its innovations on offense to what Greg Roman has done in San Francisco.

Adam Gase
Currently leading the league’s best offense because of Peyton Manning, who pretty much does all the work.

Mel Tucker
Terrific defensive coordinator who has turned moderately talented groups into pretty good units with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. Was the Jaguars’ interim head coach in 2011 and went 2-3 with a squad that was 5-11 on the season. Of course, those two wins came against the ten-game losing streak Bucs and the 2-14 Indianapolis Colts.

Really don’t believe the Bucs will go defensive guy. Pretty sure with all the quarterbacks that are coming out next spring, Bucs will go with a proven offensive coordinator and let him pick his own QB and develop him.

You really are just throwing names up on the wall like cat turds. Jack Del Rio, really??? You trust that guy to develop a quarterback? He may have had one of the most boring teams in recent memory.

As for Kevin Sumlin, someone tell me what he’s done other than develop a Sun Belt/Conference USA quarterback? He went to a school that was stocked thanks to Mike Sherman and oh by the way, had a Heisman Trophy winner fall in his lap (who initially committed to Oregon). The same player he damn near ran off of campus as a freshman.

The Glazers probably just finished paying Chucky…..he likes Tampa and the no state income tax deal….he’s probably ready for another big check….and here’s the bonus….Glazers don’t have to give up draft picks this time.

yeah hearing some of the NFL coordinators who’ve failed miserably in their previous opportunities as NFL head coaches isn’t really showing the fanbase that the Glazers want to win now. Lovie or maybe Roman are the only two names mentioned above that have track records that sound even remotely feasible as winners. No way Coughlin gets fired, he’ll ‘retire’ from the position of NY Giants coach and ride off into the sunset. Doubt (Jay) Gruden would come here either after his bro got the boot.